Safe and easy technique for the laparoscopic application of Seprafilm® in gynecologic surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery, and the rate of postoperative adhesions is low. Although Seprafilm® helps to reduce adhesions, its application in the abdominal cavity during laparoscopic surgery is difficult because of its material. Therefore, we propose an easy method for applying this adhesion barrier.

Materials and surgical technique: The Seprafilm is cut into four equal pieces. The four pieces are stacked, firmly folded twice, and grasped with the forceps. The reducer sleeve is slid over the bundle of Seprafilm. The forceps with the reducer sleeve is inserted through a 12-mm trocar near the target area. The reducer sleeve is then slid down the forceps to uncover the Seprafilm. Finally, each piece of Seprafilm is applied over the suture area. In all cases, the Seprafilm was successfully applied to the intended target. There were no cases in which Seprafilm was incompletely applied or in which it could not be used because of moistening. The average application times of surgeon 1 and surgeon 2 were 4.8 min and 5.0 min, respectively; this difference was not significant. There were no postoperative complications in any case.

Discussion: It is safe and easy to use our simple technique to apply Seprafilm adhesion barrier laparoscopically. Further studies are warranted to prove Seprafilm's efficacy after such application.

Keywords: Adhesion prevention; Seprafilm®; laparoscopic surgery.